engleski

Food preferences of Mediterranean moray eel Muraena helena (Pisces: Muraenidae), in the southern Adriatic Sea

The food and feeding habits of the Mediterranean moray eel, Muraena helena collected in the southern Adriatic Sea by bottom longline were examined. Of the total specimens, 37 were with almost or totally empty stomachs. Analysed species, M. helena is a carnivorous species whose diet primarily involves benthic fishes and crustaceans. Diet consisted of at least 27 different prey taxa belonging to eight major groups. The dietary preferences among the sex and seasons did not differ statistically but diet depends on age and reflects the differences in prey availability. Also, diet composition significantly differed according to the depth with cephalopod Octopus vulgaris occurring in diet of morays caught just bellow 30m, while crustaceans are more common in diet of specimens sampled in the shallow waters. Results indicate that M. helena is an opportunistic species that feeds on motile prey. Further on, a continuing study with a well-designed sample collection is needed to assess accurate trophic status and the predatory impact of M. helena within the Mediterranean coastal communities.

diet; ontogenetic; opportunistic species; Muraena helena; Adriatic Sea

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